I have never hunted with a scope as I was raised to use iron sights. I was looking at the rifles at Academy and was tempted to get one with a scope, but then backed off. I have had my share of game using open sights. Alot of my friends tell me how much a better world it would be if I used a scope.

i hunt all my birds with iron sights lol!!!!


and i also shoot all my hogs and koons and opossums with iron sights, at least for the most part, but that is with a pistol.

I've hunted plenty with iron sights.

Currently only one of my rifles has irons though. It's my 8mm that probably will never see a scope though.

Up until about a month ago my Marlin had the stock buck horn sights on it. My reasoning for getting a scope is two things. First, I can shoot irons hundreds of yards, but I found them not as precise and tended to cover up too much of the animal. The second is that when you find a Leupold VX3 for $300 you better jump on it! Had the Marlin had thinner sights and the scope not so cheap it'd be wearing an after market peep sight.

But I promise that my next Marlin will.

I was raised using iron sights as well but feel no attachment to them. I'll still use them if a situation warrants it, but have no reservations about whipping out a scoped rifle, either. No way I'd take more than a 150 yard shot on game with the factory open sights on my lever rifles. If I were to upgrade to something like a Veneer-type, maybe, but I'd just as soon use a scope if a specialty or long-range sight is called for. I'll basically use whatever's handy that will get the job done best. I have no loyalty to open sight or scope. I guess I'm a sight whore. lol

i've shot two deer with iron sights, both from my model 94'. I would never take a shot much past 50 or 60 yards, imo iron sights are usefull on some guns(like lever action carbines) but really have their limitations out in the field.

I would never, ever buy a bolt action and keep the iron sights, if it happend to have any

what are iron sights? Are they open sights? Like what comes on a rifle when you purchase it new before a scope is installed?

yep

I shoot my hawken iron sight and I am looking to get a 45 colt or 45-70 marlin 1894 or a uberti in 45colt that would stay iron sight. Both of my bolt guns didnt have iron sights on them.

matt

my mossberg .30-30 is iron sights, thats my main hunting gun

My only iron sighted rifle is my Big Bore 94 in 375 winchester. But with that shots will be limited to 70-75yds. Other than that, I always prefer a scoped rifle.

The one animal i've taken was with XS sights on my Marlin .44.

I shot irons (military, etc) for most of my life until switching over to an Aimpoint for serious social work.

I don't have a thing for or against scopes, as Jeff Cooper once said they don't help you shoot better, they help you see the target better..... Most guys will shoot better with some magnification, but some go overboard (using a 4.5-14X for a 50 yard shot from a stand, etc).

Low light optics definitely help, having searched many structures with a iron sighted M16 vs an Aimpoint equipped M4....no contest!

I'd use one on a bolt action with iron sight backup (real aperature sights not the cheapo crap they put on a factory Remington) if I had the option.

I hog hunt with an old winchester lever action that has iron sights. When i walk through to flush them out it is too thick to get focused with a scope. I use it at night also. Don't feel like taking my deer rifle out and maybe hitting it or something. I figure if I miss or don't hit exactly right on the hog oh well.

When I use my father 45-70 I do. Otherwise I am using a scope.

I grew up on iron sights. I never looked through a scope till I was 22-23 years old. Then I found the all mighty scope. Years went by and I never used iron sights again. Until this year. I now have a lease in east Texas and it is heavily wooded. Not the place for a scope. 20-40 yard line of sight max. Just got back to the open sights with a Marlin lever gun (357) and I love it. I missed alot of enjoyment shooting trying to make "the" shot with a scope. I see my scoped guns staying in the cabinet for a few years. They have a place, but thats not where I am at right now.

Just wait until the "old eyes" syndrome hits. You'll be begging for a scope.

I love my iron sights on my SKS. Makes for fun shooting at long range on pigs trying to estimate range and windage. I do have a pre 64 model 94 winchester 30-30 and I can't hit anything with it since it has the really wide V on the rear sight. I guess I just need to shoot it more.

I prefer to shoot at game thru a scope. I just like the fact that I can be much more precise with my shot placement. I don't have anything against someone who would rather shoot iron sites though.

thick brush iron sights, open country scope

I started out with iron sights and think everybody should. However, like Texan Till I Die says, there comes a time.

I took my old 30-30 to a stand last year. The feeder was about 100 yards away and I lined up on a doe. I wasn't comfortable. I could have hit the deer but had no confidence regarding good shot placement. Maybe at 50 yards but I doubt that I could make a heart shot at 75 yards.

x4

I hunt hogs with a lever action Marlin and AR15. Both are open sights.

I only use scopes on guns that I might need to shoot over 100 yards with. I never have, and never will, put a scope on my .30-30, 250-3000, or my muzzle-loaders. I prefer to use tang or peep sights on these. I was raised on iron sights, and never had the money for a scope (in the first place) when I was younger. I carry both to my blind now. Usually use my (iron-sight) 250-3000 for anything under 100 yards and my (scoped) Win. 70 .270 for anything farther.
Sometimes I will even keep my muzzle-loader in the blind for hogs and close deer, just for the fun of it. Scopes are fine, but I don't think they make one a better hunter or a better shot. I've seen people miss deer, hogs or what-have-you with a scoped rifle that I could have hit if I had thrown my rifle at them.

Back to basics this year, just for the heck of it. Model 94 in 45 colt with factory buckhorn sights. Sure is he11 with old tired eyes, tho. Gonna keep my shots under 100 yds. Probably way under.

I've only got one rifle with Iron sights and it's a 336 in 35 Rem, I replaced the factory sights with a Peep sight and a fiber optic front sight. Sure helps old eyes!

How's the job going?

I have a pre 64 win 94. I do not want to put a scope on it. I think that rifle needs to keep its style and look. However the iron sites just wont work for me anymore. I can barly see teh gold bb on the front site. Anyone have any suggestions on a replacement site that keeps the same look. Basicly I dont want a high tech, tacticool type site. I want it to keep its style but improve on function.